Product Review: FITS Kimberly PerforMAX Knee Patch Breeches

Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping, especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope you have fun reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences helps you on your own quest for new gear. Go Shopping.

The compression fabric feels really great when I pull the breeches on - instead of feeling like it is constricting, I feel like they hug my legs and curves like a second skin - Photo by Lorraine Peachey The compression fabric feels really great when I pull the breeches on - instead of feeling like it is constricting, I feel like they hug my legs and curves like a second skin - Photo by Lorraine Peachey

If there’s one thing that I’m absolutely stuck on, it’s comfortable clothing.  I know that the last thing that I feel like doing is walking around feeling like I can’t even breathe, because my pair of jeans are squeezing the life out of me. Jeans that fit just right are absolutely phenomenal, in my humble opinion.

They cannot be skin tight or (ultra) low rise jeans. That may be the style for some folks out there, but it’s just not for me. I’ve said this recently, and I’ll say it again: the most flattering pieces of clothing are ones that FIT. I try to not get too hung up on sizes because they vary from brand to brand, sometimes quite a bit too!

Ok, I’ll be the first to admit that’s not the easiest thing to do as an average-sized twenty-something woman, living in a society that still seems to place so much value on having a lean and perfect figure. Maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle, while being a positive and happy person is what I strive for.

Sure, it’s hard to not compare myself to others; it’s a bad habit to start, and it’s a little hard to kick. But everyone is different, and is beautiful in their own way. I just try to focus on my own healthy and happy place – which might involve indulging in pizza now and again, and definitely includes spending lots of time riding.

I feel like the perforated deerskin knee patches of the Kimberly breeches really give me some extra above-and-beyond a normal type of traction from what I am accustomed to with a normal pair of knee patch breeches - Photo by Lorraine Peachey

I feel like the perforated deerskin knee patches of the Kimberly breeches really give me some extra above-and-beyond a normal type of traction from what I am accustomed to with a normal pair of knee patch breeches – Photo by Lorraine Peachey

For me, keeping along the same trend of focusing on comfort and fit when it comes to my apparel. Spending so much time riding, I find that I am always in want of (yet another) pair of breeches. And not just any breeches, ones that fit really nicely and feel oh-so very comfortable to go riding in.

Ok, so breeches are not typically described as comfortable. But I attest to the fact that I’ve found breeches that are comfortable for me to wear. So I’m sort of addicted to breeches the same way that I’m obsessed with jeans. Sure, there are tons of jeans out there in every fit, color, style, size & price range imaginable.

And I’m of the opinion that I can’t possibly have too many pairs. That is pretty much a true statement that can be applied to buying a new pair of jeans or breeches. I might be discerning, but when I find a pair that looks terrific and is comfy…let’s just say that a ninja couldn’t pry them out of my kung fu grip.

FITS is a brand that I’ve found myself returning to time and time again. If I could only use a single word to describe their breeches, then that word would most certainly be comfortable. No doubt in my mind on that one — it’s a lock. While I feel like the word makes sense, at the same time it does not even come close to describing the experience of wearing and riding in a pair of FITS.

My personal favorite area (of the Kimberly breeches) that powermesh is featured is in the hidden ab panel--because who can't use the extra support and smoothing that the panel provides - Photo by Lorraine Peachey

My personal favorite area (of the Kimberly breeches) that powermesh is featured is in the hidden ab panel–because who can’t use the extra support and smoothing that the panel provides – Photo by Lorraine Peachey

This has been a pretty exciting year for FITS fans, as it were, because the brand has unveiled not one, not two, but three brand new pairs of breeches! A short while ago, I tried out the FITS FreeFlex breech (which you can read about here) and found that I really appreciated a full seat, easy-to-care for, attractively priced breech.

More recently, I’ve been riding in the Kimberly PerforMAX Knee Patch breeches from FITS. Now, if I had to pick a word other then comfortable for the Kimberly breeches, then that word would be tradition. Because they give riders a traditional knee patch breech look, while staying true to the comfort and performance that FITS is well-known for.

I always have to be careful when trying on a new pair of FITS, because more often then not, I don’t want to take them off. And the Kimberly breech were no exception. And with performance in mind, the Kimberly breeches have been designed with an intense compression fabric. The compression fabric features a 29% Lycra content (which is more then any other breech brand)–all with the purpose of reducing muscle fatigue, to help improve rider performance.

Another feature that I certainly appreciate is the powermesh that has been included into the design of the Kimberly breeches. My personal favorite area that powermesh is featured is in the hidden ab panel–because who can’t use the extra support and smoothing that the panel provides. I know that it certainly gives me an extra dose of confidence! Powermesh is also integrated into the lower leg, where it helps to provide a little extra support for legs, while helping to keep them cool.

The knee patches of the Kimberly breeches are made out of a perforated deerskin, which helps to provide a nice amount of grip, no matter where your ride takes you. And let’s not overlook the PerforMAX fabric itself, either. This fabric has been designed to be versatile enough to carry you through seasons.

With wicking capabilities for warmer weather, and insulating technology for cooler temperatures, the Kimberly PerforMAX breeches can perform for you season after season (after season). And let’s not forget that the PerforMAX fabric does help to repel hay and dirt too!

So let’s go back to when I pulled out the Kimberly PerforMAX breeches out for the first time. Like other FITS PerforMAX breeches that I’ve tried, the fabric is quite stretchy and also super (and I mean super) smooth. The compression fabric feels really great when I pull the breeches on – instead of feeling like it is constricting, I feel like they hug my legs and curves like a second skin.

And when the ‘second-skin’ type of feeling of the PerforMAX compression fabric is combined with the hidden ab panel, I end up with a very comfortable AND flattering fit. Might I add that the inside of the breeches have a smooth feeling underside to them, that feels soft against the skin, and does not rub or chafe while I’m wearing them.

Up close and personal view of the perforated deerskin knee patches - Photo by Lorraine Peachey

Up close and personal view of the perforated deerskin knee patches – Photo by Lorraine Peachey

I have been riding on warmer temperatures recently, and find that the PerforMAX fabric of the Kimberly breeches does a really nice job at pulling moisture away from my skin, which helps to keep me cooler and more comfortable. And I find that the powermesh panels that have been integrated into the bottom of the legs goes further to help keep me cooler.

I have also ridden in other pairs of FITS breeches made with PerforMAX fabric, and find that they do a good job at providing additional insulation in colder temperatures. So even though I’m not looking forward to the return of cool temperatures later this year, I will be glad to pull on the Kimberly knee patch breeches even after the temperatures drop.

Something that has (really) surprised me about the Kimberly breeches is the amount of grip that the perforated deerskin knee patches help to support. Pulling out my personal preference for a moment here–I’ll admit to the fact that I normally tend to gravitate towards full seat breeches. I just find that I can get a little more grip with full seats, and I typically dress for utility.

I’ve had some terrific experiences since starting to ride in the FITS Duet full seat breeches (with perforated deerskin) last Summer (which you can read about here) – because I found the perforated deerskin to provide a really nice amount of grip in the saddle. So I guess that I really shouldn’t have been surprised with the amount of grip that the perforated deerskin knee patches provide.

Powermesh is also integrated into the lower leg, where it helps to provide a little extra support for legs, while helping to keep them cool - just check out how thin and air the fabric is in the photo where you can see my patterned socks underneath - Photo by Lorraine Peachey

Powermesh is also integrated into the lower leg, where it helps to provide a little extra support for legs, while helping to keep them cool – just check out how thin and air the fabric is in the photo where you can see my patterned socks underneath – Photo by Lorraine Peachey

I feel like the perforated deerskin knee patches of the Kimberly breeches really give me some extra above-and-beyond a normal type of traction from what I am accustomed to with a normal pair of knee patch breeches. In fact, I believe after my very first ride, I came back in and made a comment to the effect of ‘those knee patches are seriously grippy’. Seriously. Grippy. That’s all.

And the compression fabric does also make a noticeable difference for me when I’m spending a lot of time in the saddle. I do find that the compression that the Lycra blended into the fabric provides, does indeed help to make my legs feel less tired after spending a lot of time in the saddle.

The Kimberly PerforMAX Knee Patch breeches are available in Stone, Clay, Sahara, and Black – each color has a retail price of $188.00, and you can find them here.

Go Grippy Breeches (That are SO comfy, you won’t want to take them off).  Go FITS.  Go Eventing.